Business

How to halt N1t electricity subsidy, CBN’s N1.5t interventions

Published

3 years ago

December 6, 2021

Electricity stakeholders in the country, yesterday, insisted that removal of subsidy in the power sector was feasible if the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) could streamline interventions in the sector to mitigate the negative impact on the masses.

Last week, the Federal Government alerted that the gap between the Cost Reflective Tariff (CRT), and Allowable Tariff (AT) peaking at N28 per unit of electricity supplied to consumers, this year stands at about N1t.

Coming at a time that it is also considering subsidy removal on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Infrastructure, Ahmad Zakari, had disclosed at the 12th edition of PwC Nigeria’s Annual Power and Utilities Roundtable, that the nation needs to optimise the potential in the power sector through a cost-reflective tariff regime.

Since the sector was privatised in 2013, perpetual interventions through the CBN have served as lifelines to the sector. They include Power and Aviation Intervention Fund (PAIF), hovering at about N300b, Nigerian Electricity Market Stabilisation Facility (NEMSF), which is about N213b, an N140b Solar Connection Intervention Facility, an over N600b tariff shortfall intervention, as well as a recent N120b intervention designed for mass metering among others.

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In March 2017, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved an N701b CBN facility as Power Assurance Guarantee, just as the Federal Government, in 2019, also signed the release of another N600b to bridge the shortfall in the payment of monthly invoices by key stakeholders in the sector.

Fueled by tariff shortfall, receivable collection, technical, commercial and collection losses, financial liquidity in the power sector hovers around N4t as the apex bank, alongside the Federal Government has continued to initiate a series of interventions to douse tension and avert a collapse of the 2013 electricity privatisation exercise.

In about eight years, the CBN would have spent over N1.5t to keep the nation’s power sector afloat although the sector was privatised to survive by itself.

Although most stakeholders insisted that the interventions remained critical, especially in easing the liquidity crisis and attracting further interventions, they maintained that tweaking the interventions in manners that would ease further the masses’ burden and halt arbitrary billing of consumers was very important.

Renowned energy expert, Prof. Wunmi Iledare, noted that interventions by the CBN as a payable loan was understandable, even if it is a forgivable loan.

He insisted that the current structure of the electricity market in the country could mar the interventions, stressing that there must be a decentralised energy planning system.

According to him, while it is good that banks are targeting spending, subsidy may be a political expediency instrument, not economic efficiency hence “it should be disavowed. By the way, estimated billing now termed electronic billing is fraudulent! A quick way to bring subsidy to an end is metering and decentralisation of power management and services. Nearly everything centralised in the fashion of militarism has failed woefully, education, health, energy services road infrastructure, name it,” Iledare said.

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An energy expert, Eseosa Lloyd Onaghinon, stated that the energy sector must be rid of inefficiencies, which is usually passed on to consumers, adding that there are about 40 per cent inefficient losses between transmission and distribution.

“If we do not address such losses that occur, we might as well get into a trap where it’s an unending discussion of ‘subsidy’ even though it is continuous inefficiencies covered up as subsidies,” Onaghinon stated.

For energy lawyer, Osagie Agbonlahor, most of the woes experienced in the sector were responsible for the poor electricity situation in the country, adding that the development should be blamed on electricity operators, revenue collectors and the powers that be.

“How many army, police, air force, navy barracks in the country that their residents pay electricity bills at all? How many government ministries, army, air force, navy offices pay for the electricity that they consume? Who has ever dared to drive to the barracks and disconnect their source of public power supply the way they do to ordinary Nigerians? For how long has this been going on in this country? If you take away these huge leakages, you will see that the ordinary Nigerians have been sustaining and subsidising the electricity consumption of these people.

Agbonlahor said that the government broached the idea of deducting the huge outstanding electricity bill consumed in barracks and government offices under President Olusegun Obasanjo.

He noted that “until we start to do the right things, we are just going to be beating about the bush.”

He asked the government to do a forensic audit of the N1t subsidy to check where the so-called subsidy is coming from.

The Guardian had earlier reported that the failure of federal and state governments, as well as their ministries and agencies to pay over N100b outstanding electricity bills is currently worsening the liquidity crisis in the sector.

The situation has also reportedly led to distribution companies hounding private electricity consumers who pay more through estimated bills and higher tariffs, rather than recover outstanding debts from government agencies.

Guardian

Related Topics:CBN electricity Featured interventions subsidy

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Aviation

Aviation workers threaten nationwide airports shutdown over Customs officer assault

Published

2 days ago

March 25, 2025

Trends Admin

Aviation workers threaten nationwide airports shutdown over Customs officer assault

Aviation unions have announced plans to shut down airports across Nigeria starting March 31 in protest against the failure to remove a customs officer who allegedly assaulted the Director of Aviation Security at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

In a joint statement signed by Ocheme Aba (NUATE), Frances Akinjole (ATSSSAN), and Abdul Rasaq Saidu (ANAP), the unions condemned the repeated physical assaults on FAAN staff, vowing not to tolerate such incidents any longer.

The unions also called on the government to urgently reduce the number of customs officers operating within the aviation sector, aligning with global best practices. They warned that if their demands are not met, they will proceed with the nationwide shutdown, potentially disrupting air travel and operations.

The statement reads: “Considering the enormity and frequency of physical and psychological assault on the staff and management personnel of FAAN, of which there is no end in sight, we are compelled to inform the management of the unwavering determination of our unions to cause the establishment of a clear framework of mutual respect among FAAN staff and the security agencies operating at the airports.

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“Consequential sanctions are in place which guarantee the safety and human rights of FAAN staff. We shall direct all the workers to withdraw from the airports with effect from March 31, 2025, pending when such protocols are established.

“The recent assault on no less a personality than the Director of Aviation Security of FAAN is one too many, which leaves a taste too bitter to swallow. It is our sincere hope that our demand in the above respect is well met to avoid the industrial conflagration that will ensue in the absence of acceptable remedial actions.”

In response, Abdullahi Maiwada, the spokesperson for Customs, stated in a recent release that the disagreement between FAAN officials and officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) stemmed from a miscommunication over equipment movement and seating arrangements.

Aviation workers threaten nationwide airports shutdown over Customs officer assault

Business

SEC announces stricter measures to protect investors

Published

3 days ago

March 24, 2025

Trends Admin

Director-General of SEC, Dr. Emomotimi Agama

SEC announces stricter measures to protect investors

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting investors in Nigeria’s capital market by cracking down on fraudulent activities.

According to the Director-General of SEC, Dr. Emomotimi Agama, operators engaging in unscrupulous practices will face strict penalties as the Commission prioritizes safeguarding investor interests.

“So, clearly for us, it is getting people to understand that there is no hiding place anymore for anybody that has the intention to defraud Nigerians and to defraud anybody that is investing in this market,” Dr. Agama stated, emphasizing the Commission’s zero-tolerance policy.

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Dr. Agama highlighted that the Investments and Securities Act (ISA) 2007 serves as the framework for securities regulation in Nigeria, ensuring that market operators adhere to high ethical standards.

He emphasized the importance of the “fit and proper person’s test,” which requires operators to meet specific regulatory criteria to maintain their licenses.

“This is because the very ethics of regulating or registering a securities market operator is in the principle of the fit and proper person’s test,” he explained.

“What you have been seeing most recently by the revocation of licenses, the suspension of operators and our follow-up to operators that are not registered with the SEC is only a tip of the iceberg as to what we intend to do this year.”

Dr. Agama assured stakeholders that the SEC will leverage its regulatory powers under Nigerian law to deter fraudulent activities, noting, “We believe strongly that a protected investor is a powerful investor.”

SEC announces stricter measures to protect investors

Business

Bitcoin rises above $86,000 as crypto market gains momentum

Published

3 days ago

March 24, 2025

Trends Admin

Bitcoin rises above $86,000 as crypto market gains momentum

Bitcoin and other leading cryptocurrencies extended their gains on Monday, buoyed by positive investor sentiment despite concerns over upcoming U.S. tariffs and key economic data releases later this week.

As of 7am WAT, Bitcoin rose 3.2% to $86,590, while Ethereum gained 2.3%, trading at $2,047.

The global cryptocurrency market capitalization increased by 2.94% in the past 24 hours, reaching $2.84 trillion.

Other notable performers included XRP, Cardano, and Dogecoin, which posted gains of 3%, 2%, and 3.8%, respectively. Chainlink, Avalanche, Hedera, and Stellar recorded growth ranging from 3% to 10%.

“Bitcoin is holding above $86,000, registering a 3% gain today. The key resistance level to watch is $86,700; a breakout could pave the way for $90,000,” said Vikram Subburaj, CEO of Giottus.

Bitcoin’s market capitalization surged to $1.727 trillion, with dominance rising to 60.73%. Its 24-hour trading volume soared by 93% to $18.2 billion, while stablecoin transactions accounted for 94.74% of total crypto trading, reaching $57.58 billion, according to CoinMarketCap.

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Solana Outperforms Peers Amid Positive Market Sentiment

Solana (SOL) emerged as a standout performer, surging over 7% in the past 24 hours to trade above $139.

The rally was fueled by reports suggesting that President Trump’s April 2 tariffs may be more targeted than initially feared, easing market concerns.

Weekend rumors indicated that the tariffs might include country exemptions and non-cumulative charges on metals, contributing to improved sentiment across global markets.

The Federal Reserve’s projections for two rate cuts this year further supported risk assets, with the central bank describing potential tariff-induced inflation as “transitory.”

BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes expressed optimism about Bitcoin’s trajectory, stating, “The Fed’s policy orientation could help Bitcoin achieve $110k before it retests $76.5k.”

Solana’s momentum aligns with unprecedented acceptance rates. DeFiLlama reported that Solana’s total value locked (TVL) reached 54.87 million SOL, its highest level since June 2022. Ali Charts revealed that a record 11.09 million addresses now hold SOL, underscoring growing adoption.